OCOM’s Employee Awards 2024
July 2024 - The Dean’s Council appointed an Awards Task Force to develop the awards for nomination, facilitate the nomination process, and review the nominations to select the ultimate winners. The task force received numerous nominations showcasing a wide range of talent, hard work, and continuous improvement.
When the task force reviewed the nominations, each nominee was kept anonymous to uphold the integrity of the scoring rubric. The awards we are presenting today were carefully crafted to reflect the core values that are at the heart of OCOM. Each award represents a value or set of values that we hold dear, and through these awards, we celebrate the importance of these values in our community.
Through each award presented, you will see how these core values manifest in the exceptional contributions and achievements of our nominees. These awards are a testament to the dedication, compassion, and excellence that define OCOM and its people.
The first award: Community Service Award. The Community Service Award recognizes a faculty member, staff member, or group of faculty and staff members who have made extraordinary contributions to our community. Some of the comments in the nomination include that ‘This person is an exemplary OCOM representative in the community. They have a heart of service and are always looking to give back to OCOM and the community at large. Working pro-bono at Shepard's Hope servicing the vulnerable population and uninsured patients not only aligns with our values but exemplifies them.’ This year’s Community Service Award goes to: Dr. Kevin Sherin.
Our next award is: Distinguished Faculty Award. The Distinguished Faculty/Staff Award recognizes faculty and staff who model an exceeding level of caring, innovation, inclusion, integrity, and teamwork. Some comments from the nomination include that ‘This person is often mentioned by other team members as a faculty member that inspires them. Her work is consistently of high quality which is noticed by other faculty members. She is the type of leader that listens to everyone and tries to use their input, whenever feasible or possible. In her communication with other faculty she is a true caregiver, attending to the needs of others before herself. She has assumed leadership roles where earned the respect of other faculty members.’ This year’s Distinguished Faculty Award goes to: Dr. Sapna Rama.
Our next award is: Outstanding Leadership Award. The Outstanding Leadership Award recognizes employee members who demonstrate superb leadership, exceptional operational excellence, and stewardship of the resources of Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine. Some comments in the nomination form include ‘Her positive attitude, quality of work, collaborative leadership style and work ethic have had a positive impact on overall faculty moral. She is a non-assuming natural leader of the faculty team. Her influence whether overt or subtle is an invaluable asset to a collaborative faculty team. A strong faculty team is essential to the success of OCOM and it's future Osteopathic physician graduates.’ This year’s Outstanding Leadership Award goes to: Dr. Alexandra Franco.
Our next award is: Big Heart Award. The Big Heart Award recognizes any employee who has shown unwavering support for their coworkers and who goes above and beyond to assist their colleagues. Some excerpts from the nomination include ‘His ability to step up and serve in multiple roles gave others who may have been overwhelmed the opportunity to focus more intently on their work. His flexibility showed that he is a team player and is driven to see the best results for OCOM as a whole.’ This year’s Big Heart Award goes to: Nehemiah Cornelius.
Our next award is: Technology & Innovation Award. The Technology & Innovation Awardrecognizes a faculty, staff, or group of faculty and staff members who have developed a new research method, technology, or innovative service that will radically improve or transform medical education. Nomination comments include ‘All constituents benefit from this innovation because of the ease of use and digestion of information. Her self directed improvements and eye for design have helped our website look phenomenal.’ This year’s Technology & Innovation Award goes to: Gabriela Villarroel.
